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U.S. Department of Energy
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Cascade inertial-confinement-fusion power plant

Conference ·
OSTI ID:6232976

The Cascade reactor is double-cone shaped with a maximum radius of 5 m. It rotates at 50 rpm. The average temperature of a three-material flowing granular blanket leaving the reactor is 1440 K. Heat from the blanket is transferred to helium gas in a shell- and ceramic-tube-type heat exchanger that has a separate region for each blanket material. Diffusion of tritium from the blanket granules through the heat exchanger is only 25 Ci/d, so no intermediate loop is needed for isolation. We selected a simple once-through, regenerative, 5-MPa helium gas-turbine (Brayton) cycle for power conversion because of its simplicity and high efficiency. Fusion power is 1500 MW; this is multiplied to 1670 MW/sub t/ in the blanket. Power conversion efficiency is 55%. Net electric power is 815 MW/sub e/, produced with a net plant efficiency of 49%.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA); California State Univ., Long Beach (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-48
OSTI ID:
6232976
Report Number(s):
UCRL-92558; CONF-851102-11; ON: DE86003195
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English